Football: Deciding Pac-5 playoff berths will be very tough

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Trying to decide which teams get the two at-large berths in the Pac-5 Division playoffs is going to be one tough decision.

Just look at what’s happening in the South Coast League, which is guaranteed just two playoff spots. Mission Viejo (5-0) scored a school-record 84 points on Friday in an 84-22 win over Aliso Niguel. And the Diablos aren’t even considered the favorite to win league. Tesoro is 5-0, and don’t forget about El Toro, which is 5-0 and scored 77 points in a win over El Cajon Valhalla.

Then there’s the Serra League, which has only two guaranteed spots but includes Crespi (6-0), Bishop Amat (4-0-1), Alemany (4-1), Notre Dame (4-1) and Loyola (4-1).

There’s also the Trinity League, which has three guaranteed spots and has five unbeaten teams _ Santa Margarita (5-0), Orange Lutheran (5-0), Mater Dei (4-0), St. John Bosco (4-0) and JSerra (4-0).

The Marmonte League gets four playoff berths and the Moore League gets three.

There’s going to be some very good teams left out of the Pac-5 playoffs come November, so gaining an automatic berth will help prevent lots of sweating and nervousness on selection day.

-- Eric Sondheimer